Did Islam introduce slavery?
In fact, slavery was prevalent throughout the world before the advent of Islam. Slaves were part of the social and psychological system.
What are the rights of slaves in Islam and in the non-Muslim countries?
1-In non-Muslim countries slaves almost have no rights:
a-They are treated as a commodity or merchandise; they are considered property to their owner.
b-They are forced to do toiled (hard) work in the field from dawn to sunset.
c-They get little portion of food just to live.
d-They sleep in groups and cells and most of time they are tied.
F-Slave girls are exposed to violence and rape.
2- In Islam, slaves are considered as citizens having all rights of citizenship:
• In Islam, all Muslims are brothers as they have a common descent. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “you are sons of Adam and Adam was created from clay”
• In Islam, all people are equal, as the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
“You should know that no Arab is superior over a non-Arab and, non-Arab is superior over any Arab, no white is superior over black and no black is superior over white. Superiority is by righteousness and God-fearing (alone).”
• In Islam, fraternity joins all Muslims, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:“Your servant and your slaves are you brothers. Anyone who has slaves should give them from what he eats and wears. He should not charge them with work beyond their capabilities. If you must set them to hard work, in any case I advise you to help them.”
• In Islam, slaves are protected even from verbal abusing, the prophet (PBUH) said:“Not one of you should (when introducing someone) say ‘this is my slave’,’this is my concubine’. He should call them ‘my daughter’ or ‘my son’ or ‘my brother’.”
• There were, in addition, strict principels enforced as a law: the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whosoever kills his slave, he shall be killed, whosoever imprisons his slave and starves him, he shall be imprisoned and starved himself.”
• Beside such sanctions, which made the master behave with care, the slave also enjoys the legal right to earn money and hold property independently of his master, the right to keep his religion and to have a family life with the attendant rights and obligations.
• Finally, the slave has the right to buy his freedom (the master has not the right in this case to reject the slave’s request for freedom).
Why didn’t Islam prohibit slavery by a ruling like Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation?
Truthfully, if we want to talk about this issue, we have to talk about how slavery was banned in America.
Abraham Lincoln was one of the great presidents of America who issued the Emancipation proclamation in 1863 to abolish slavery. It freed 4 million black slaves which led to quake the society. This resulted in a civil war that lasted for 5 years and left 500,000 dead and 500,000 injured. And one million out of four died out of sick or hunger for they could not afford themselves.
Later in 1865, The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution outlaws slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.
Then number of amendments granted the slaves citizenship and right to vote, but it was not applied.
In 1879, in what known as Kansas exodus, the United States witnessed a mass immigration of the black Americans who escaped discrimination.
In 1896 the Racial segregation was applied.
The years between 1945 and 1970 witnessed a lot of struggles and civil movements.
Despite all these efforts, racism still exists in the United States till nowadays.
Slavery exists nowadays in various countries in many forms (women – children trafficking – legalizing prostitution – the red light districts are prevalent in USA, some European & Far East countries – illegal trade of human organs)
So, it is apparent that solving issues which are so ingrained in society in such an abrupt manner can have several adverse effects. As we see that 150 years after the abolition of slavery, Black people still could not sit next to white people on public buses.
This is because of the way Mrs. Lincoln and his followers fixed the problem of slavery. He did not realize that slavery is just a symptom, while the disease itself is Racism. And this is the most dangerous thing, treating the symptom instead of treating the disease itself.
On the contrary, Islam offered the right solution for the problem of slavery. It took drastic measures and radical solution to uproot racism which was a social malady. At the same time, Islam got rid of slavery in a gradual manner, without shaking the foundation of society. This is why we have no slaves, but in America there are still because they have racism.
The measures of Islam to eradicate racism and abolish slavery:
• It grantes paradise to whoever frees a slave. Allah said “and what will make you know the path that steep?(it is) freeing a neck (slave etc.)” ( Qur’an 90:11-13)
• One of the ways of spending zakat (alms-giving) is by freeing slaves. “Alms are for the poor and the needy and those employed to administer the (funds) : for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to truth); for those in bondage and in dept; in cause of Allah; and for way farerthus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom”. (Qur’an 9:60)
• Emancipation of slaves was also the legally required expiation for certain sins or failures in religious duties, for example, the breaking of an oath or the breaking of a fast.
• Freeing a slave is required also in the accidental killing, ‘it is not for a believer to kill a believer except (that it be) by mistake, and whosoever kills a believer by mistake (it is ordained that) he must set free a believing slave’. (Qur’an 4: 92). This form of atonement is critical as it means that, in Islam, freedom is equal to life. You took the life of someone, so you have to give freedom to someone else.
• The most beautiful way Islam employed to free slaves is called ‘the emancipation agreement’ or ‘the master-slave agreement’. It is Islamic innovation that was made to free slaves and to make the master and slave sit together at one table and be able to write contracts with one another.
• Islam showed that the master should be the first one help the slave obtain his own freedom and that he should put the first payment as a gift. God, the Exalted, says(what means):“and such of your slaves as seek a writing (of emancipation), give them such writing, if you know that they are good and trustworthy. And give them something yourselves out of the wealth of Allah which He has bestowed upon you”. (Qur’an 24:33)
These measures of Islam are signals for the masters that this slavery is about to end. So, free the slaves you have and do not buy any new ones. If you want slaves, they have to wear the same clothes that you wear. They have to eat the same food that you eat. And if you beat your servant he is automatically free.
Who would want to own a slave that way?!
Now it is obvious how Islam solved the problem of slavery by this unique, unprecedented, matchless, remedy that was prescribed by God, the All- knowing, the Wise.
Slavery in Islam is INHIBITED not prohibited
Not forbidden by a law but by: man’s conscience, free will, strong determination to attain expiation or purification from sins or craving desire to please God, the Exalted, and an overwhelming ambition to enter paradise.
Unlike Christianity, racism in Islam is the ORIGINAL sin .Racial discrimination motivated Satan to disobey God’s Commandment to prostrate to Adam. God, the Exalted, says (what means):
“And We created you, then fashioned you, then told the angels: Fall ye prostrate before Adam! And they fell prostrate, all save Iblis, who was not of those who make prostration. He said: What hindered thee that thou didst not fall prostrate when I bade thee ? (Satan) said: I am better than him. Thou createdst me of fire while him Thou didst create of mud.He said: Then go down hence! It is not for thee to show pride here, so go forth! Lo! thou art of those degraded.”(Qur’an 7:11-13)
Consequently, all Islamic countries are free from any form of slavery.This indicates how Islam, remedied slavery without causing any loss
May God guide us all to His True path.
Email: Islamnedal76@yahoo.com
